Hetfield Feels the Love

Metallica singer/guitarist James Hetfield issued a brief statement to the band's fan club Web site from the undisclosed rehabilitation facility he entered on July 19th.

"It's a great feeling to have the support and comfort for me as a person from all the friends I've made out there," reads the post. "Thanks very much, it means a lot." Hetfield entered the facility to be treated for alcoholism and "other addictions."

Hetfield's rehab stint postponed recording sessions for Metallica's next album, and the band also cancelled a July 29th party to mark the re-launch of their official Web site, www.metallica.com. The nixed recording sessions were to have produced the band's first studio album of new material since 1997's Reload.

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Song Stories

“Tonight's the Night”

The Shirelles | 1960

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."

More Song Stories entries »

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